It's amazing just how the anti-spyware community get soooo excited about practically any program they come across. My take on it is that if they stuck with simple tried, tested and (most importantly) reliable methods of staying safe online they wouldn't have to spend so much time looking for yet additional ways of securing their systems.
I run Zone Alarm Free Edition, AVG Free Edition, Adaware Free, CC Cleaner (free) Spywareblaster (free) and Xoftspy - nothing else. I also have Windows Updates permanently turned off and System Restore permanently disabled. In seven years of a home internet connection I have never had a single virus or other malware on my computer. I update and run my anti virus and spyware programs once a week and nothing has EVER been found.
Have I been lucky? I don't think so. I believe the main reason I have NEVER had a problem is because I have never used Internet Explorer while connected to the internet. I used Opera from 1999 until earlier this year and am now on Firefox.
Says it all, really.